The Friday Morning Listen: Pat Metheny Group

Part of: Friday Morning Listen

Last night TheWife walked in the door to be greeted by the sounds of AC/DC's Stiff Upper Lip being played way too loud. I was in the middle of cooking dinner (tomato and garlic saute/reduction thingie, served over bruschetta with fresh mozzarella...honestly, an excuse to drink some nice red wine. (And hey, we're no snobs - the wine was Red Truck. You want snobbery? Check out this review bit: "It's a jovial quaff, but the fruit outruns minimal acidity, leaving a pudgy beverage that seems as much like a 'spiked' glass of fruit juice as wine." Whoa.)

Anyhow, the reason for the garlic in the air and the wall-shaking music was that the house was empty. This is not a common occurence around here. Earlier that day, my folks had left for a trip down to Pennsylvania to visit my niece. So it was just me, the GreatestCockerSpanielInTheWorld™, and the circa-1825 house itching for some action. Brian Johnston and the Young Brothers provided the soundtrack.

This morning's Listen is coming to you from the comfort of my living room couch. The opportunity to hang out in the emptiness was too much to pass up. Midday yesterday I "scheduled" an impromptu vacation day....and here I am.

The Falcon And The Snowman soundtrack isn't the quietest thing you've ever heard. In fact, given the nature of the film itself, it's got quite a bit of tension-building and foreboding chunks of sound. It's also got David Bowie doing "This Is Not America".

That's still not why I picked it.

The opening "Psalm 121/Flight of the Falcon" contains one of those moments that can cause a person to well up. The human voice is such an amazing instrument. Here it's inspiring to witness the voices of the Abrosian Choir swell as "Psalm 121" explodes joyously into "Flight of the Falcon". The feeling I get when hearing that bit of music is very much like how I felt this morning when I realized that I was on vacation. Oh yea.

Now I've just gotta figure out what's for dinner tonight.

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Article Author: Mark Saleski

Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. He has contributed to Jazz.com and also writes reviews for Blogcritics.org. He produces the weekly feature The Friday Morning Listen. …

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  • 1 - DJRadiohead

    Apr 14, 2006 at 9:27 am

    This morning's Listen is coming to you from the comfort of my living room couch.

    You have no imagination.

    Enjoy your day.

  • 2 - Mark Saleski

    Apr 14, 2006 at 9:35 am

    yea? enjoy your day at WORK.

  • 3 - DJRadiohead

    Apr 14, 2006 at 10:02 am

    At least today is overtime. Extra caysh rules.

  • 4 - Lisa McKay

    Apr 14, 2006 at 10:06 am

    If you want to expand on that recipe a little, I wouldn't complain. I'm always looking for a good excuse to open up a bottle of red wine.

  • 5 - Barry Stoller

    Apr 14, 2006 at 10:18 am

    Too bad 101 Strings never got around to Pat Metheny.

  • 6 - Mark Saleski

    Apr 14, 2006 at 10:26 am

    smartass

  • 7 - Triniman

    Apr 14, 2006 at 10:51 am

    I look forward to more of your thougts about Metheny. Have you seen him live?

  • 8 - Mark Saleski

    Apr 14, 2006 at 10:57 am

    yer kidding? yes, more times than i can count.

  • 9 - Geo

    Apr 15, 2006 at 8:15 am

    I love elevator music... knock of the 101 strings slam! Too bad the radio doesn't carry that stuff anymore... ain't nothing better than a Beatles tune played like a Mantovoni.

    In fact, my daddy and his buddy Vince were talking one day (late 60's). And Vince sighs and says "Mantovoni really does it for me" my dad sighed in agreement, as the music soared out of his Kenwood stereo, Garrard Turntable, and Warfdale speakers. I'll never forget that exchange. Nor have I ever forgotten the sound of "easy listening" music from the 60's, it was very lush.

    But... I am getting off the subject.

    Red Wine... we need a tab for wine reviews.

    Pat Matheny... if you haven't seen the "Speaking of Now" DVD, you will absolutely love it! It's great.

  • 10 - Mary K. Williams

    Apr 18, 2006 at 2:04 pm

    Red Truck is quite good!

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